The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-07
E. L. HARPER'S TRIAL.
The Evidence in the Case More and More
COncIusive-Tues day's Testimony.

The Evidence in the Case More and More
COncIusive-Tuesday's Testimony
CINcINNATI, December 6.-The forenoon
session of the Harper trial was spent in
placing before the Jury more testimony
concerning Harper accounts aud his pc
culiar methods Several book-kespers
were examined on these points. j. w.
Hoyt, the broker. made the somewhat
startling statement that Benz amin z. Hop
kins became his creditor last June to the
amount of S60l ,S06. He never paid it, as
Kershaw & Co. could not pay him.
Hoyt's account was transferred to Will
shire, Eckert & Co., by Hopkins
order. The witness never did any bust
ness with Harper; it was all with Hopkins.
Counsel for the defence asked the witness
if he did not know who vas the principal
in these dealings. YES" said the wit
ness, 81 know It was Harper" Receiving
Teller Hinch was again placed on the
stand and identified letter of ADVICE from
Hopkins to Irwin, Green q Co., notifying
them of credit of $3.50
Although the MAN facts in the great
Fidelity Bank failure, caused by the IA
nous but disastrous wheat-deal with T. L..
Harper, as general manager have been be-
fore the public for six months, yet the Iu-
terest in the matter remains as viviC as
ever. To-day, for instance, when the whole
day was devoted to dreary, but damaging
business, records of the eccentricities OF
Harper's checks and drafts and certificates
of deposit, with not CLEAN OF dramatic
color1ng. the court room was kept cOntin-
ually full a large space is divided by q
railing from the public's dom ain, into
which the parties, their counsel, m smbeFs
of the bar, the press aud distinguished
visitors are admitted. Among the last
named are included ladies' This space
was to-day kept fully occupied by CON-
tinually changing assembly. The fur-
Their end OF the room is open to tue
public, but no disorder is permitted.
and a most constant procession of men
passes in and out as curiosity leads them
IN, and disappointment drives them out,
put they all move noiselessly under the
cor slant watchfalness of two or three
deputy marshalls. Bot all are not dieaP-
pointed. They get to see Harper, the GEN.
tral figure of the scene, with that CneIs
plainable courage aud cheerfulness. which
has never yet deserted him He is the
most interested man in the court room,
but he betrays no worry nor annoyance.
His black hair and fne features distinguish
him in tiatterlng contrast with his PortlT
and somewhat lethargic counsel, Msssrs.
Blackburn and Wilson. Mrs. Earper is
also seen by these curiosity hunters. Her
gentle face shows no sign of WEAKNESS as
| SDe SlL9 JQeIo through bu6 lung, GllA uOlib
| of the whole days session, giving what
| support her presence may be to her bus
band. They also see her sister, Miss Mat
thews, q beautiful girl with a tell-tale lace
| hiding with difficulty her emotions Be-
yon0 the sight seeing there was little OF
| interest to-day. The testimony almost all
related to Hsrper's method OF doing bust
ness.
Ebert F. Gay, individual bookkeeper OF
| the Merchants National Bank, testified to
numerous over drafts on their bank by j.
w. Wiltshire & 90. The same story waI
| told by other Witnesses abo7t Wits Iron
and Steer Works. Hinch, the receiving
teller OF the Fidelity, told Of Harper takiue
no checks of Wiltshire, Ecker q Co, March
| II, when the bank examiner was there, by
giving his own check to the amount o
| over $500, GOO He was shown three d-aft
on the Western National, of New York
for $4,000, 100000 and $40, Oee. Ther
was no entry made of these in the sMesl
ern's accoant, yet the drafts were paid
making it appear the Western had some o
the Fidelity's money.
The c-ossexamiration of this witnes
showed the most persistent effOrt OF ia
defense yet made to bolster ap a case. ii
was asked IL there we're not entries show
ing that interest had been paid on check
carried as cash itams. He found one IL
stance where ]. W. Wiltshire & Co. had pal
$l13interest, but no more appeared. Thel
were few interest charges in the accouI
OF Swift's Iron. and Steel Works.
Mr.. Adam Wagner, assignee OF Swift
Iron and Stsel Works, testified that
| found assets. worth $4,000, and liabilix
: amounting 10 81, 100000.
J. H. Waters, book-keeper, testified. sh
certificates of deposit were issued cut
consecutive order as to dates and number
Adjourned ill tomorrow.